Shropshire Star

Father attempted to save life of toddler daughter killed in car incident

A Range Rover rolled downhill into a wall which collapsed and killed the toddler in Merthyr Tydfil.

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Pearl Black died following an accident involving a car in Merthyr Tydfil (Family handout/PA)

The one-year-old daughter of a tattoo artist who appeared on TV talent show The Voice died when a car rolled into a wall causing it to collapse.

Pearl Melody Black, described “as bright as the stars” by her parents, was killed while with her father, Paul, who joked he was Sir Tom Jones’ son when he appeared on the BBC show in 2014, and her younger brother, who was also injured.

Police say the Range Rover, which was unoccupied, rolled down a hill at an address in Heolgerrig, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and into a wall at 1.39pm on Sunday.

Pearl Black
Pearl was taken to hospital with her younger brother, who suffered minor injuries in the incident (Family handout/PA)

It is believed the Blacks were walking back from the park when Pearl was injured.

On Monday, her parents, Mr Black and Gemma Black, paid tribute to the youngster saying “she was the reason we all lived”.

In a statement released by South Wales Police, they said: “Pearl was every single star in every single sky, she was as bright as the stars, when she looked at you with those eyes and she would melt your heart. She was the reddest pearl in the ocean and the sweetest melody ever written.

“She was the greatest dancer and she has left a massive hole in our hearts, the world will be a darker place without her.”

Flowers at the scene
Flowers and a teddy bear lay on the remains of the collapsed wall (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

In 2014, Mr Black, who is well known as a singer and entertainer in the village, appeared on The Voice and managed to convince Will.i.am he was from America after putting on an accent.

Sir Tom had to step in to explain it was “Welsh humour” before ending up on the receiving end of another joke when Mr Black asked him: “Dad, where have you been all these years? Mam said it was the only way I could get to see you.”

One local mother told reporters Mr Black tried to save his daughter from the runaway vehicle.

She said: “Paul threw himself into the way to try to save her. It was very brave but he didn’t have a chance against such a heavy Jeep. They are a lovely family. Paul is well known in the area because he was on The Voice. He does a lot of singing around here.”

 Prince Charles Hospital
Pearl died at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil (Barry Batchelor/PA)

Pearl was taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil by air ambulance but died a short time later.

Her brother had minor injuries, officers said. Other members of the community were in shock on Monday. A number of bouquets of flowers and a grey teddy bear were left near the damaged wall by wellwishers.

Local mother Rebecca Morgan, 30, who was taking her daughter to a birthday party when she spoke to the Press Association, said she saw Mr Black standing near the site of the accident from a window on Sunday night.

Ms Morgan said the village had been eerily quiet after the incident.

She said she understood that the family had been to the park and were walking back when the accident happened.

South Wales Police said an investigation was under way to establish how the toddler suffered fatal injuries in the incident. A force spokesman said: “It is known that an unoccupied Range Rover which had been parked in a driveway, rolled down the hill and collided with a wall which collapsed.

“The family respectfully ask to be left alone to grieve at this very difficult time and are being supported by specially trained officers.”

Mr Black posted a message on Twitter saying his life was on hold.

Pearl’s father, who has more than 1,300 followers and uses the handle @Paulblack7, wrote: “My life is on hold indefinitely. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and messages. I’m a broken man. Our beautiful family has been savaged.”

He posted a similar message on a Facebook account called Paul Black Music, where hundreds of well-wishers responded with messages of shock and sympathy.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

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